The SDO takes a picture almost once every second, allowing scientists to monitor our star's majestic solar flares, which can result in massive bursts of X-rays and UV rays. Eruptions swirl and sometimes even escape the sun's gravity altogether, according to NASA.

The observatory actually records the images using binary code (or that series of zeros and ones you may have seen). Then a computer program converts that into black-and-white photos, which are then colorized to be as realistic as possible.

The exhibition is permanently on display at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland and temporarily as part of Astronomical exhibit at the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson, Arizona until May 17.